Method of integrating computer visualization for the design of a vehicle

1. A method of integrating computer visualization for the design of a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining a low-level geometric model of the vehicle; determining a modifiable parameter to modify the model of the vehicle; morphing the model of the vehicle into a morphed model of the vehicle including the modifiable parameter using a computer visualization; analyzing the morphed model of the vehicle using a computer aided engineering(CAE)analysis; determining if the CAE analysis of the morphed model of the vehicle meets a predetermined criteria; and using the morphed vehicle model in the design of the vehicle.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of determining a low-level geometric model includes the step of selecting an input parameter from a library stored in a memory of a computer system.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of determining a low-level geometric model includes the step of selecting a vehicle body structure from a library stored in a memory of a computer system.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of determining a low-level geometric model includes the step of determining if a geometric model of each component part is available, and using the geometric model of the component part if available.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of determining a low-level geometric model includes the step of selecting a surrogate geometry for a component part within the low-level geometric model.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of adding a component part feature to the morphed model of the vehicle from a library stored in a memory of a computer system after the step of morphing.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of identifying a structural connection joint for adjoining body panels within the morphed model of the vehicle after the step of morphing.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of using the morphed vehicle model to generate a high-level geometric model of the vehicle.

9. A method of integrating computer visualization for the design of a vehicle comprising the steps of: selecting an input parameter from a library stored in a memory of a computer system; determining a low-level geometric model of the vehicle by selecting a vehicle body structure from the library using the input parameter; determining a modifiable parameter to modify the model of the vehicle; morphing the model of the vehicle into a morphed model of the vehicle including the modifiable parameter using a computer visualization; analyzing the morphed model of the vehicle using a computer aided engineering (CAE)analysis; determining if the CAE analysis of the morphed model of the vehicle meets a predetermined criteria; and using the morphed vehicle model to generate a high-level geometric model of the vehicle.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the input parameter defines an architecture for a design of the vehicle.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of determining a low-level geometric model includes the step of selecting a surrogate geometry for a component part within the low-level geometric model.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of determining a low-level geometric model includes the step of determining if a geometric model of each component part is available, and using the geometric model of the component part if available.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of adding a component part feature to the morphed model of the vehicle from the library after the step of morphing.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of identifying a structural connection joint for adjoining body panels within the morphed model of the vehicle after the step of morphing.

15. A method of integrating computer visualization for the design of a vehicle comprising the steps of: selecting an input parameter from a library stored in a memory of a computer system, wherein the input parameter defines an architecture for a design of the vehicle; determining a low-level geometric model of the vehicle by selecting a vehicle body structure from the library using the input parameter; determining if geometry for a component part within the vehicle body structure is available, and selecting a surrogate geometry for the component part if not available; determining a modifiable parameter to modify the model of the vehicle; morphing the model of the vehicle into a morphed model of the vehicle including the modifiable parameter using a computer visualization; analyzing the morphed model of the vehicle using a computer aided engineering (CAE) analysis; determining if the CAE analysis of the morphed model of the vehicle meets a predetermined criteria; and using the morphed vehicle model to generate a high-level geometric model of the vehicle.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of adding a component part feature to the morphed model of the vehicle from the library after the step of morphing.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of identifying a structural connection joint for adjoining body panels within the morphed model of the vehicle after the step of morphing.